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A. C. HUMPHRBYS, Y APPARATUS POR MANUFACTURING GAS.

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. P'A'peted July 11, 1893.

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l APPARATUS P011 MANUPAGTUP'ING (PAS.l No. 501,250. v

Sanoma mmm -6 Sheets-Sheet/VB. A. C. HUMPHRBYS; APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

I Patented July 11,1893.

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A. C. HUMPHREYS. APPARATUS POR. MANUPAGTUEINGv-Gj/AS- Patented July 11, 1893.

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A. C. HUMPHRBYS.

APPARATUS POR MANUFACTURING GAS. No. 561,250.v Patented Ju1y11, 1893.

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(No Model.)

" 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

A. G. HUMPH-REYS. APPARATUS POR MANUFACTURING? GAS.

No. 501,250. 'I Patented July 11 AWM UNITED STATES ATnNT ALEXANDER O. HUMPHREYS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE UNITED GAS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS..

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 501,250, dated July 11, 1893.

Application filed December 19, 1887. Serial No. 258.358. (No model.)

T0 all whom .it may concern: economizing heat, the heavy oils, before their Be it known that I, ALEXANDER O. HUM- injection to the carburetor, are heated to as PHREYS, of the city and county of Philadelhigh a temperature as is proper or desirable, phia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have inby an exchange of heat from the outgoing 5 vented certain new and useful Improvements gas after it leaves the fixer, thus at the same 55 in Apparatus for Manufacturing Gas; and I time, materially reducing the cost of cooling do hereby declare that the following specitithe gas in scrubbing and condensing. For cation, taken in connection with the d rawings obtainin g within the carburetor,and alsowithfurnished and forming a part of the same, is in the steam superheating chamber, a desirro a clear, true, and complete description of the able combustion of gaseous matter while 5o several features of my invention. heating up, I employ a blast of air, which My said improvements relate to water gas is highlyheated by such products of combusmanufacture, and are founded upon the well tion, as are discharged from either said carknown Lowe methods and apparatus,fu1ly buretor, or said superheater, or both of them,

r 5 disclosed in certain United States Letters and thus economizing what would otherwise 65 Patent, heretofore granted to T. S. C. Lowe. be 'wasted heat.

My saidimprovements have been devised with In describing my apparatus as illustrated special referenceto enablingthe practical and in the drawings, the features believed to be successful use of soft or bituminous coals, and novel, will be designated in detail, and they zo the heavy oils, of which Lima oil is awell will also be duly specified in appropriate 7o known type, as distinguished from the use of clauses of claim hereunto annexed. anthracite coal and thelight oils and naphthas, Referring to the six sheets of drawings Figordinarily employed heretofore. Iattain said ure l, illustrates in side elevation a complete ends by economically developing high temdouble apparatus embodying my invention.

z5 peratures, in that I reduce what may be Fig. 2 illustrates a little more than one half 75 termed waste heat to a minimum, and by so of said apparatus in top or plan view. Fig. 3 working the oils, that solid matters, residual-y is a side elevation of one-half of the apparatherefrom, are reduced to a minimum, and tus, as viewed from the side opposite to that greatly lcssening their liability to impair the shown in Fig. l. Fig. 4 illustrates a portion 3o incandescing capacity, of those heat affordof said apparatus in vertical central section. 8o ing surfaces, with which steam is brought Fig. 5 illustrates the top of one of the carbu` into superheating contact, thus enabling retors in section. Fig. 6 illustrates in section, heating up to be promptly accomplished, two neck pieces or throttlers used for varying and a highly favorable degree of steam superthe area of the exit ports of the carburetors.

35 heating, carbureting, and fixing duty to Fig.7 illustrates one of the'oil. heaters in sec- 85 be performed, at each run of the apparatus. tion, and Fig. 8 illustrates an oil heater of By avoiding Contact of ,the-oil with the suranother form. Fig. 9 is a sectional View illusfaces of interior portions of the apparatus, trating the interiorof a suitable air heater. these latter are also more readily raised to,- Fig. l0 illustrates an air heater, which is com- 4o and maintained at, favorable temperatures, mon to, and is heated by the products of com- 9o for performiugiixingduty,during the pasbustion discharged through two exit ports. sage of water gas enriched by gasilied oil. I Fig. ll in vertical section illustrates updraft have also for the first time, as l believe, progenerators, and a super-heater, with a carbuvided for heating the carburetor by diverting retor, which in heating up is arranged to 0p- 4 5 a portion of the products of combustion, from erate in accordance with my invention. 95 the superheaters, and gas fixing chambers, It is to be understood that'in'my present leaving the main portion of said products, to use of the term generator, I have applied pass to these last named chambers, whereinv it, as usual, to each of those chambers, which much higher temperatures should be used, actually serve as furnaces, in which solid-fuel 5o than are required in the carburetor.. For is burned in heating up, and through the roo incandescent contents of which, gaseous matter may be forced as an operation, alternating with each heating up operation, and further, that in the use of the term superheater, I have applied it to each of those chambers in which steam is superheated, and also in which the gas is fixed, and, still further, that in the use of the term carburetor 7 I have applied it to each of those chambers, to which oil is delivered, and within which, it is vaporized and partially gasified and fitted for com mingling With, and enriching the water gas developed in other portions of the apparatus.

I will first describe my improved apparatus, as when organized for use in extensive gas works, and with reference to amode of Working it, for obtaining the best results, both as to economy, and quality of product. It should be understood that while I have illustrated the several parts of a double apparatus, arranged in one line or row, said particular arrangement, forms no part of my invention, and that as a rule, the two generators will be placed side by side, as shown, with the two carburetors side by side at the rear of the generators, and the two superheaters also side by side, at the rear of the carburetors. The two generators A, A', are vertical cylindrical structures, provided with tightly covered feed ports a, and with grates a', and

they communicate at their tops, by way of a lateral duct a2. The two superheaters B, B', are vertical cylindrical structures, and they are properly provided internally, with many fire brick I), so arranged as to afford an extensive superficial area, and ample intervening passages, as at b', for steam on its Way to a generator, or for gas on its way through said superheater, when operating as a fixing chamber. Each superheater has at its top, an exit or discharge port b2, guarded by a valve, or gate b3, readily opened and closed, and above this port, an uptake or chimney b4 is provided. A pipe b5 leads from the top of each superheater to a Washer or seal chamber b, and a pipe b?, provided with a valve or gate bs, leads from said Washer for conveying gas to a main or to other gas works apparatus, such as purifiers or scrubbers. At its base, each superheater communicates by way of a duet b9, with the adjacent generator, and preferably with the ash pans or spaces beneath the grates a. The duet Z'niay be a direct conduit, or it may be partially contained within the base of a carburetor as shown, but this latter arrangement, is immaterial, so long as said duct communicates with the interior of the carburetor, as Will hereinafter be made apparent. The carburetors (l, C', are vertical cylindrical structures, each heavily lined with fire brick, and having a tubular interior, which is unobstructed from top to bottom, and it serves as an oil gasifying or vaporizing chamber c. At its top said chamber is contracted, and is provided with one of a series of detachable neck pieces or throttlers c', composed of lire clay, and said series of throttlers, afford annular Openings of various sizes, so that the area of the exit port c2, at the top of the chamber, can be varied in its dimensions, for purposes hereinafter explained. The discharge or exit port c2, is guarded by a valve, gate, or cap c3, which can be readily opened and closed, and above said valve and port, there is an uptake or chimney c4, for conveying away the discharged products of combustion. The interior chamber c, of the carburetor freely communicates with the duct b9, before described. At the foot of the chamber c, and below the line of said duct b9, an annular space c5, is provided for the reception of oil in the event of any accidental or undue delivery thereof to the car bu retor, and an adjacent hand hole c, affords convenient access to said space, if such should ever be required. With the uptakes c, and sometimes with the uptakes or chimneys h4, before described, I employ air blast heaters D, D', through which air is forced on its way to various portions of the apparatus during the operation of heating up, as will now be fully described. Each generator A and A', has near its top, a blast port cl, thus affording adownward blast in each. Each carburetor near the junction of its interior chamber c, with the lateral duct b9, has a blast port CZ', and so also has each superheater near its base, a blast port d2, the several blast pipes d3, adjacent to each of said ports, being pro- IOS) vided with suitable valves for graduating the blast, as Well as for cutting it off entirely when proper so to do.

Steam is supplied from a suitable boiler, by Way of a system of piping E, to portions of the apparatus, as follows: to the superheaters B, B', near their upper ends, by Way of jet pipes e, and also to the carburetors, by Way of jet pipes e. The oil is properly heated before its use in the apparatus, by passing it in contact with the exteriorsurfaces of pipes traversed, by a portion of the hot gases on their way from the superheaters, (when the latter are operating as gas fixers,) to the seal washers 11G, or the oil may be passed through pipes exposed to the fixed hot gas. In other words, I employ oil heaters F and F', which in one form are horizontal cylindrical chambers, near the superheaters, and connected With a system of oil pipes f provided with suitable cocks f.

Two forms of oil heater are shown, one of which, Fig. 7, contains one or more pipes g, which communicate at one end with the interior of the gas conducting pipe b5, near a superheater or fixer and at the other end, with the interior of a seal washer ZJ, so that said pipes g, being freely traversed by the hot gas, will properly heat the contents of the oil heaters,and forenabling the quantity of gas passing through the heater to he regulated, said pipe g, is sometimes provided with a loose fitting valve or gate, by which a throttling effect can be therein obtained.

IIO

The oil is supplied to said heaters under pumping or other pressure, and it is delivered therefrom by the system of piping f, by way of jet pipes f2, entering the carburetors at their upper ends, each of said pipes being flexible, and passing through the movable gate or cap c3, and thereby enabling themto discharge the oil downwardly, and centrally with a minimum liability of its contact with the interior walls of chambers c.

In Fig. 8, an oil heater is shown, containing a coiled pipe f, through which the oil is conducted, the gas in this case entering freely, and passing through the chamber, and surrounding the oil conducting pipe, which may be in a to and fro arrangement, or in worm form, it being onlyimportant thata sufficient length of inclosed pipe be provided for enabling the oil to be properly heated while passing through it.

Now referring again to the generators or furnaces A. A', it is to be understood that, aS.

' thus far described, they do not differ materially from prior generators employed inthe well known Lowe process apparatus, either in their construction, or in their mode of operation. The superheaters or iixers in their f structure, do not differ materially from others, heretofore employed, but when considered in connection with a carburetor, interposed between the generator and superheater, I believe it to be new to provide both of them, with one or more air blast ports d, d2, whereby sufficient oxygen may be supplied for insuring combustion of gaseous matter passing through each of them, while heating up.` These carburetors differ in many respects from the similarly designated portions of any prior apparatus known to ine. Neither of my said carburetors have surfaces on which the oil is deposited for vaporizing, but on the contraryin falling from the top in free space, the oil is thoroughly vaporized and partly gasiiied, and in that form, at the bottom of the chamber c, it isV merged with the bodyv of water gas on its way from the generator toward the superheater, then operating as a fixer. While I prefer to deliver the jet of oil through the center of the cap as shown, the

jet pipemay be located at either side .'of. 'the' center, and so as to pass through the top of the carburetor, and yet afford a substantially central discharge of oil without liability of its contact with the interior Walls of the carburetor. Each carburetor has a direct passage for the heating up blast; and each-has its eXit port at its top, and said port is graduated as to the area of kopening, and near its base each carburetor has an air blast port for insuring a proper combustion of gases within the chamber c, While heating it. i

Heretofore carburetors have been so arranged with reference to the generator, and the superheater, and so connected therewith, that4 the carburetor has been traversed by all of the products of combustion, on their Way from the generator to the superheater, but inA bing operation.

my apparatus, I provide, as I believe, for the iirst time, for diverting only so much of the heated products of combustion', from thesuperheater, as is actually necessary forproperly heating the carburetor, and also so that either carburetor may operate for a time, as an auxiliary superheater, while the other meantime, operates only as a carburetor.

In operating the carburetor with light hydro carbons, longer runs can be made, than when heavy oils are used,under the same conditions. as to the volume of heat, previously secu-red, and stored within the carburetor, and hence when using very heavy oils, the carburetorshould have more heat stored in its walls, than when light oils are used, and in order to promptly attain the desired condition as to temperature, a full sized exit port is used, soas toA enable a greater volume ofA gaseous matter to be burned in passing through the carburetor than would be needed, in theuse of lighter oils, and hence in the latter case, asmaller sized neck piece or throttler is inserted for reducing the area of the exit port. Whether a superheater be used for superheating steam, or for iixing gas,`it should be heated to a much higher temperature, than is required in the carburetor, and I have provided for so adjusting the exit port of the carburetor, that the latter need never be overheated, while properly heating up the superheater or fixing chamber.

Heretofore, carburetors have also been so arranged, that the oil is discharged directly into residuary matter, and rendering those surfaces which should be as nearly incandescent as possible, less eifective, either for the superheating of steam, or for fixing gas. I am aware, however, that in another type of apparatus, retorts have been placed within socalled superheaters, and supplied with water or steam, and oil, and that the gases emanating from said retorts, have been delivered into a iixing chamber.

IOC

IIO

The oil heaters differ from any heretofore known to me, in that the oil is not thereby vaporized but. heated therein to proper tempe'ratures derived from the hotproductf'gas, thus materially lessening the quantityfof water otherwise necessary for cooling downthe product gas, during the condensing and scrub- The air blast heatersD are specially effective in that the air is raised to desirably high temperatures, by means of the heat which is dischargedfrom the superheater-s and carburetors, or either of them, and which would otherwise bewasted heat. Each air' blast heater is 4mounted above an exit port on legs d4, and is provided with interior passages for the air, and with other free interior passages opening to the uptake or chimney, so that the discharged column of the products of combustion on emerging from the exit port into the open air is freely supplied with atmospheric oxygen at the base of the heater, affording a complete combustion within said heaters, and thoroughly heating the interior air conducting passages or ducts. Other air heaters may be placed above the superheaters, or the outgoing columns of products of combustion from both, may be merged into an air heater, common to, and heated by, the products of combustion emerging from both exit ports, without departure from this portion of my invention.

In Fig. l0, I show the superheater and carburetor provided with a single uptake or chimney, and an air blast heater D, which is internally traversed by the united columns of the products of combustion discharged from both of the exit ports b2 and c2. l

In operating the apparatus, as thus far described, to the best advantage, I proceed as follows, it being assumed that all the steam jets, and oil jets, and the valves in gas pipes beyond the seal washers, are closed; the exit ports of both superheaters and both carburetors wide open, and the generators both charged with solid fuel, such as bituminous coal, properly ignited, and their-covers tightly applied. The air blast is then introduced into both generators through ports d, thence downward through the mass of fuel, thence laterally in two directions by way of ducts b", the main portion of the resulting hot gases passing to and through the two superheaters, and a small portion to and through each of thecarburetors, the air blast being also supplied to each of these at their bases, in proper volumes, until the fuel in the generators has been raised to a proper degree of incandescence, and the superheaters and carburetors are properly heated. The air blast is then cut od, and all of the exit ports at the tops of the su pei-heaters and carburetors are closed. One of the gates bs, in the gas pipes at one end of the apparatus, is then opened, and steam is admitted to the superheater, and to the c arburetor, at the opposite end of the apparatus, whenever itis deemed proper, and as the internal pressure increases, the superheated steam is forced to, and then upward through the adjacent generator, downward through the other, and thence onward, the gas being enriched in its path, by the vaporized and partly gasitied oil which is discharged from the communicating carburetor (Within which the oil is vaporized and partially gasiied, while descending in free space), and so onward into and through the adjacent superheater, which then serves as a chamber for fixing the gases. After a run has been made, the steam and the oil jets are closed, the four exit ports again opened, and the hot blasts applied again to the generators, superheaters, and carburetors, until the apparatus is properly heated, (the gas valve being closed in the meantime.) Then another run is made, as described, but

preferably reversing the operation of the apparatus, by opening the gas valve which was before kept closed, andinjecting steam at the superheater which before served as a xer, and injecting oil, in stead of steam, t0 that carburetor which before served as an auxiliary steam superheater.

The use of the air blast, highly heated, by the discharged columns of the products of combustion, contributes greatly to economy in fuel, and the same is true of pre-heating the oil; and the heating of the oil bya corresponding reduction in the temperature of the product gas, results in material economy in cooling and scrubbing in the matter of time and water, as will be apparent when it is considered, that the heat thus taken from the gas during a working day, ordinarily heats say from four to ve thousand gallons of oil, to a temperature of say 4:00o Fahrenheit.

When the oil is injected in proper quantities into my carburetor, it cannot although discharged therein in its liquid form, engage with interior surfaces, but in falling, as it does, centrally Within a cylindrical chamber which is sometimes as high as fifteen feet, and say eighteen inches in diameter, the walls of which are highly heated even to incandescence, it is thoroughly vaporized and partially gasitied, before reaching the base of the carburetor, and is in prime condition to be merged with the gaseous product en1anating from the superheater and the generators.

I deem it of practical value to avoid the introduction of oil in a liquid form, to passages traversed by the gases which are to be carbureted, as usually heretofore, and also to avoid permitting the oil in a liquid form to lodge upon or trickle over interior portions of an apparatus, because by so doing, I maintain all of such surfaces in prime condition, for giving out the heat desired during a run of gas, as well as for promptly assuming an incandescent or properly heated condition, while heating up the apparatus; and it will be found also that linings, checker brick, dac., both in 'the carburetors and super-heaters or fixers will do much longer effective duty, than when they are exposed to the reception of solid residuary matters, always incident to the contact of oil therewith.

While I prefer in the matter of economy, and quality of product, to employ my apparatus in its doubled form, as indicated, it must not be assumed that certain features of my invention, are restricted to said double form, because my double apparatus is sometimes arranged so as to enable it to be operated as two separate organizations, or so that I can operate either, while the other is at rest, with satisfactory results. As for instance, the duct a2, is provided with any suitable gate at a3, thus enabling communication between the generators A and A', to be wholly closed. A steam jet pipe e2 enters each generator near its top.

In operating either half of the apparatus IOO IIO

singly, communication between the generators 1s .wholly cut off, and either generator is supplied with the hot blast, and raised to a proper heat, meantime heating up the communicat-A ing superheater and also the carburetor, after which the air blastis cutv off, and the exit ports h2, and c2, closed. Y Steam is then forced through the incandescent mass of fuel in the generator; the carburetor' is operated as when working double, but the superheater proper, then operates only as a fixen and my oil heater still further provided for operating both generators in conjunction with either superheater, and the carburetor adjacent thereto. This is accomplished as follows: The ash pans or spaces below the grates of the generators communicate with each other at a gate guarded port 0,4, and each duct b9 near its entrance to said spaces, is provided with a gate a5, for cutting off communication wi'th the generators. Both generators having been supplied with fuel properly ignited, and the duct a4 opened, the blast is applied to both,'pass ing downwardtherein, through the fuel, into the ash pans, andforcing the heat from both, into say the right hand duct b9,and into and through the right hand carburetor and superheater, untilaproper heat has been obtained, whereupon the blast is cut oft, and the exit ports b2 and c2closed; steam is then admitted to both generators, and oil supplied to the right hand carburetor, the right hand superheater then serving as a fixer. It will be readily obvious that both generators can in like manner be operated in connection with the left hand carburetor and superheater. This mode of working would be advisable in the eventk of either superheater or carburetor being unfit for duty, but the use of both generators, for decomposing steam, would of course be more effective than if but one were used.

In large gas works, which will warrant the use of several apparatuses of the double type,

tity, and quality, althoughz for obtaining the best results` as to economyand quality', the

double apparatus should be used and operated in the manner previously described.

In an emergency, as say in the event of Even if the appa-` heater or fixer, thisjthen serving only as a conduit for'the product gas. Y

It will be obvious that more or less of the advantages accruing from heating up carburetors, by means of diverted portions of the products of combustion, while permitting the main portions'of said heating products to proceed to a superheater, or to a gas fixing chamber, can be variously obtained, even if the interior of the carburetor beoccupied by checker brick, and also even if the volume of water gases be entered at the top, and passed from the bottom of the carburetor to the fixing chamber, as usually heretofore. As, for instance, in Fig. 1l, I show generators A2, and a superheater B2, similar to those illustrated in Letters Patent to Granger and Collins- No. 287,277, October 23, 1883. The carburetor C2, here shown, is filled with checker brick, as in said patented apparatus, but it is here organized, so `that it can be operated while heating up either as in said patent, or in accordance with this portion of my present invention. This carburetor C2 has a port and cover at its top, and so it has in said prior apparatus, but in that case, it was a mere man'- hole, while now it serves as an exit or discharge port for the products of combustion. This generator A2 is blown at thebottom,and the heat passes out near the top through a duct h, and in said prior apparatus it passes directly into the carburetor, down through it, and out at or near its base, into the base of the superheater,.or fixer B2. I now place a gate h', in said duct h, and provide a diving flue h2, which passes from said duct h, downward and horizontally beneath the carburetor, and to the base of the fixer, and in this Vflue h2, I place a gate h3. The Iiue h2 communicates with the carburetor C2, by way of a port h4. Oil of the naphtha variety is admitted by pipet' and sprayed at proper time uponV the checker brick k. If the gate h', be opened, and the gate h3, closed, and the top of the carburetor closed, the operation of heatingup, will be precisely as in saidl prior patent, and all of theheated products of combustion will pass through the carburetor on their way to the chamber B2. If, however, the gate h3, be opened, and the gate h', closed, and the top of the carburetor opened, the heat .will be driven below the carburetor, and only so much will be diverted into, and permitted to pass ythrough said carburetor, as 'can escape through the properlythrottled open exit port Vat thehtop, and thel main body of the products of combustion, will pass directly onward to the chamber B2 where it is most needed, precisely yasin my apparatus previously described.

After heating up'the apparatus, steam is ap- IOO IIO

plied beneath the grate in the generator, and the resultant gases may pass into d uct 7L (gate h being open and gate h3 closed), and thence down through the checker brick, (while oil is beinginjected into the carburetor,) an d thence to the fixing chamber B2, so that this part of the operation will be as described in said Letters Patent. In apparatus of this type, this 4heating up feature of my invention, is specially desirable, because the carburetor need never be overheated, and only the required quantity of heat diverted from the fixing chamber whether the latter is or is not organized to also operate as a superheater. Itis of course to be understood that. the checker brick and the oil pipe arrangement shown at C2 in Fig. ll, would be unsuited for working heavy oils, which must not be allowed to fall upon or to drip over walls or surfaces within a carburetor. Now by removing the checker brick from the carburetor, and placing the oil jet substantially centrally at the top thereof, another feature of my invention would be involved, because the oil would then be vaporized and partially gasilied while `falling in free space, and without contact with interior surfaces, and at the base of the carburetor, it would be merged with the gas from the generators, if the gate h were closed, and gate 71,3 opened, thus causing this apparatus to then operate in this respect, like mine as previously described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a gas making apparatus, the combination substantially as hereinbefore described, of a generator and superheater having a duct or passage which connects said generator and superheater and is alternately occupied by heated products of combustion on their way from the chamber which is supplied with solid fuel, and by superheated or decomposed steam on its way to a fixing chamber, and a vertical carbureting chamber communicating at its base only, with said duct, and provided at its top with an oil supply pipe, and with an exit port provided with a valve or gate, whereby when said exit port is opened, said chamber will be heated by a diverted portion of the products of combustion supplied by the generator, passing directly through it from its base to and outward through its open top, and also whereby when said port is closed, and oil injected, the oil will be vaporized and partly gasified and merged at the base of said chamber, with decomposed or superheated steam while passing through said duct.

2. In a gas making apparatus, the combination substantially as hereinbefore described, of a generator, and a fixing chamber; aduct which aords the sole communication between the generator and fixing chamber; and a vertical carburetor which has at its top a valve guarded port and an oil injecting pipe, and which communicates at its base with said duct, whereby in heating up the apparatus, all of the hot products of combustion will pass to the fixer through said duct eX- cept when the top of the carbu retor is opened, for permitting a portion of said hot products to pass upwardly therein, and also whereby gaseous matter delivered from said generator will pass through the same duct to the fixer and be carbureted in its passage thereto.

In agas making apparatus, the combination substantially as hereinbefore described, of a down draft generator or furnace to which solid fuel is supplied, a chamber provided with a steam injection pipe and checker brick for rendering it capable of operating either as a steam superheater, or as a fixing chamber, through which the products of combustion are mainly conducted while heating up the apparatus, and a carburetor, provided with an oil injection pipe, and interposed between said generator and said chamber, communicating at its base only with the bases of both, and provided at its top with a valve guarded ezgit port.

et. In agas making apparatus, the combination substantially as hereinbefore described, of a pair of closed down draft generators, each having an airblast port above the grate, and an exit port below said grate, and to which solid fuel is supplied, and which communicate with each other at their tops; two chambers, in both of which steam may be superheated and gas fixed; each chamber at its base connected by a duct with the base of an adjacent generator; and between each generator and its superheater or gas fixer, a vertical carbureting chamber, communicating at its base with said duct, and provided at its top with a valve guarded exit port, whereby in heating up the apparatus, both carburetors may be properly heated by means of diverted portions of the products of com bustion proceeding from the generators, while the main portions thereof pass to and through the superheating and gas fixing chambers, and also whereby either carburetor on being supplied with oil, will enrich gases after their passage from either superheater, through both generators, and while passing laterally through or across the interior of the carburetor near its base, on their way to the super-A heater then operating as a fixing chamber.

5. In a gas making apparatus, embodying duplicate carburetors, each provided at its top with an oil injecting pipe and aguarded port and duplicate snperheaters, each of the latter provided with a valve guarded port at its top and with a steam injection pipe, and each capable of operating as a fixing chamber, the combination of a pair of generators which are coupled at their tops, by a duct provided with a gate, and a steam jet pipe in each generator, each of said generators being in communication with carburetors, and with a superheater or fixing chamber,substantially as described whereby the heating of the carburetors and the superheaters may be separately IOO l'IO

provided with steam injecting pipes, and op.

erating either. for superheating steam, or as tiXing chambers, and two carburetors, each intervening between a superheater and a generator, and providedvwith I oil injecting pipes, and also with steam injection pipes, whereby while either carburetor is being supplied with oil, the other may be used for superheating steam and to co-operate with one of said superheaters.

7. In agas making apparatus, the combination substantially as hereinbefore described, of a generator, to which solid fuel is supplied, a chamber in which steam may be superheated, or gas fixed, a duct connecting the bases of said generator and chamber, a carburetor provided with a steam injection pipe and communicating at its base with said duct, and provided at its top with a valve guarded exit port, and air blast ports at the bases of said chamber and carburetor, whereby in heating up the apparatus, appropriate portions of the heated products of combustion may be directed into and through said chamber and said carburetor, and each appropriately supplied with air for securing good combustion of gaseous matter therein.

8. In al gas making apparatus, the combination substantially as hereinbefore described, of the two generatorsor furnaces, communicating at top and bottom, valves or gatesY for controlling said communication,a carburetor and a superheater communicating with each other, and with one ofV said generators at its base, a similar carburetor and a similar superheater communicating in-like manner with the. other generator, and valves or gates for controlling said communication, whereby after heating up both generators, and either carburetor, and its communicating superheater (to enable it to operate as a xing. chamber), steam may be decomposedi-n ,either or both of said generators, and delivered to the heated carburetor and superheater or tixing chamber, while the other carburetor and superheater are wholly out of service.

9. i In a gas making apparatus, the combination substantially as hereinbetore described, with a generator and asuperheater and fixer of a carburetor having at its top a `valve guarded exit port, and connected at its base with a duct for directing heated products of combustion thereto, and also having said port adapted to receive either of a series of annular neck pieces or throttlers of various sizes for varying the area ot' said port, whereby the heated products of `combustion passing through said carburetor lmay be graduated to its proper requirements, and obviate the wasteful diversion of heat from other portions of the apparatus, such as superheaters, or tixers, or both, and also whereby overheat-l ing of said carburetor maybe obviated while properly heating said other portions.

10. In a gas making apparatus, the combination substantially as hereinbefore described, of the vertically unobstructed carbureting chamber into which oil in liquid form is delivered, and within which the oil while falling in space is vaporizedtor carbureting purposes; the chamber in which the carbureted gas is fixed; and an oil heater communicating with, and aiording a passage for hot product gas discharged from the fixer,

and also communicating withthe top of the vertically unobstructed carbureting chamber, whereby the temperature of the product gas is reduced, and oil in its passage through said heater is not vaporized, but raised to a desirable temperature suitable `for delivery in its liquid t'orm into the carbureting chamber. .Y

ll. In a gas making apparatus,the combination substantially as hereinbefore described, of two generators, provided with air blast ports above their grates, and communicating IOO with each other by` way of a passage at the bottom below the grates, a valve or gate for controlling said passage, a carburetor and a gas fixer both communicating ,with each other, and with said generators below their grates, whereby either of said generators may be wholly relied upon for co-operating with said carburetor and lixerf or both of them made to jointly co-operate therewith.

ALEX. C. IIUMPIIREYS.

, Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. SERRILL, MINTURN T. WRIGHT. 

